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My daughter-in-law died two months ago. Everyone used to make fun of her because she was taller and healthier than my son. Whatever ill minded people said, at the end she eventually became our daughter.
My wife often advised me not to show my affection for Nooreja in front of other daughter-in-laws...

Towards the Heavens (12)

For those of you who have witnessed the death of someone, you may have noticed that the eyes face a certain fixed direction while the soul is being taken out at the moment of death. This is a phenomenon, the reality of which people without eemaan fail to understand and explain, regardless of how much they may have excelled in worldly sciences. But once again, Islaam provides the most clear, precise, true and accurate answer.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) explained hundreds of years ago,

“When the soul is taken, the eyes follow it.” (Saheeh Muslim)

If you look carefully, while paying special attention to the eyes, you will witness the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) words to be self-evident in the following video:

…Just as the Shaykh begins reciting a passage of the Qur’aan, Allah (Almighty) Wills to take His soul. Indeed, this is a sign of a blessed ending and Allah knows best.

Clearly, we can see in this video that the eyes followed the path the soul took as it left this world, accompanied by the angels. At that point the soul entered into the realm of the hereafter – just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) had elucidated clearly to the believers. As a matter of fact, many people have witnessed this happening to their loved ones and close friends. My uncle narrated to me that just before my grandfather died he too had quickly looked up towards a small window high up in the wall and then all of a sudden he passed away, similar to what the Shaykh can be seen doing in the above video.

Isn’t it amazing that although the Prophet (peace be upon him) was known to be the Most Truthful in his time, even now after such a lengthy period of time after his demise, the truth of his words are still clear for those who wish to reflect and open their hearts. But why is it that we blind ourselves to such signs that Allah (the Most Merciful) shows us in and within the very creation that surrounds us and is perceptible to us, be it over the internet or by way of an incident which occurs in our lives? Why is it that when we are shown a sign our hearts do not soften, our eyes do not shed tears and a sincere drive to do more good doesn’t rejuvenate within us? Why is it then that what is to come after death seems like a far-off and far-fetched reality, something not as vividly real, existent, tangible, significant and substantial as the events of this passing world, that we all know we have to leave one day? The truth is that we know the truth yet fail to let it have an effect on our hearts and in our actions. For, both of these are two different things; the people who know are not necessarily the people who implement. We must remember that this very knowledge may be used to file a case against us or for us on the Day of Reckoning. O Allah! Save us and forgive us for our mistakes. Aameen!

Dear Sisters, surely we will find ourselves in a worrying state unless we take time out to turn to Allah to clean our hearts, our very essence, purify our intentions and thoughts and strive to be from the strong believers (al-Mu’minaat). But the fact remains that unless we ponder deeply over such realities, instead of only our worldly and transient problems and needs, realization and faith won’t hit us hard as it really should.

Many times in the Qur’aan Allah mentions the action of thinking, mentioning thought and contemplation in a praiseworthy way.

{And we have also sent down unto You (O Muhammad) the Reminder and the advice (the Qur'ân), that You may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them, and that they may give thought.}(An-Nahl [16]: 44)

{It is Allâh who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. Verily, in this are signs for a people who think deeply.}(Az-Zumar [39]: 42)

This is because the intellect can be a powerful tool, if utilized properly it will do wonders for us. But if not, this very intellect will make us do things that we will only regret. Today, Einstein is revered for his advancements in science, but what did Einstein’s brains give him if it didn’t lead him to Allah? His views about Allah (Almighty) were clearly agnostic. He said,

“I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it.”{footnote}From Wikiquote; letter to an atheist (1954) as quoted in Albert Einstein: The Human Side (1982) edited by Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman ISBN 0-691-02368-9{/footnote}

“My position concerning God is that of an agnostic.”{footnote}Albert Einstein in a letter to M. Berkowitz, 25 October 1950; Einstein Archive 59–215; from Alice Calaprice, ed., The New Quotable Einstein, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2000, p. 216.{/footnote}

Therefore, even if someone is considered clever in the worldly sense, it doesn’t mean they’ll succeed. The whole world points out to us, is screaming out to us through its very existence, that Allah (the Glorious and Mighty) exists, and that to Him is our return.

{Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding. Those who remember Allâh (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): "Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, Glory to You! (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire.}(Aal-‘Imraan [3]: 190)

THAT IS WHY, while reading about the Hereafter, it is imperative that we allow the information to sink into us, to hit us hard, and in this way hopefully it will bring about a change into our lives. Then our intellect will be, Allah Willing, used for what it was originally created for: the worship of Allah (Almighty), and this can be done through contemplation and remembering death often, just as the Prophet (peace be upon him) so sincerely commanded us to do.